Lecture12: Antifungal Agents

Question 1

What do Polyenes do?

Answer 1

They form annular channels, which punch a hole in the membrane and kill the fungus

Question 2

What are the two Polyenes?

Answer 2

Nystatin and Amphotericin B

Question 3

What do Polyenes bind to?

Answer 3

Ergosterol

Question 4

What is use of Amphotericin B limited to?

Answer 4

Life threatening fungal infections

Question 5

How is Amphotericin B administered?

Answer 5

Intravenously

Question 6

What is the most serious toxic effect of Amphotericin B?

Answer 6

Renal Dysfunction

Question 7

What do Azoles inhibit?

Answer 7

The enzyme Demethylase

Question 8

What does Demtheylase do?

Answer 8

Convert Lanosterol to Ergosterol

Question 9

What do Azoles do?

Answer 9

The conversion of Lanosterol to Ergosterol means the fungal membrane is defective.

Question 10

What is Fluconazole primarily active against?

Answer 10

Yeasts

Question 11

Azole side effects?

Answer 11

Varying degrees of liver toxicity. Risk of cardiac arythmias

Question 12

How do Allylamines function?

Answer 12

They inhibit an enzyme in the early stages of Ergosterol synthesis.

Question 13

What Allylamine treats Ringworm (dermatophyte) infections?

Answer 13

Terbinafine

Question 14

What is Flucytosine?

Answer 14

A potent inhibitor of RNA transcription, and DNA Synthesis

Question 15

What is Flucytosine and Amphotericin B combined to treat?

Answer 15

Cryptococcal meningitis

Question 16

What is the primary toxic effect of Flucytosine?

Answer 16

Reversible bone marrow suppression

Question 17

What do Echinocandins do?

Answer 17

They inhibit an enzyme critical for cell wall synthesis

Question 18

What does Caspofungin treat?

Answer 18

Candida and Aspergillus

Question 19

What does Grideofulvin do?

Answer 19

Interfere with cell division

Question 20

What does Griseofulvin treat?

Answer 20

Superficial Mycoses

Question 21

How do fungi resist drugs?

Answer 21

Inactive drug activity via efflux pumps